Canyoneering Route Description

Angels Advocate - 4A II
Dirty Devil Area, Utah.

Quick Facts

03-05-16, 2 people, 1 Day (Travel time in route 4.5 hours) Pictures Icon

Time Required - 3 to 4 hours
Distance - 1.9 miles Total, 0.3 miles Technical
Rappels - 7 Rappels, Longest Rappel 110 feet.  (add an additional rappel if you decide to go down to the final rap in Angel Slot)
Elevation Range - 4900 - 4170 Feet
Shuttle Required - No Vehicle - High Clearance or carefully driven passenger cars Permit Required - No

Gear Used for Canyon

Rappelling and anchor gear, Ropes and or pull cords for rappels up to 110 feet and 30 feet of 1 inch webbing for sling placement in Angel Slot.  A sandtrap will also be needed for some of the rappels.  A retrievable anchor like a Smooth Operator may be helpful but not manadory.

General Comments

Angels Advocate is a side entrance to Angel Slot and offers a route to practice SandTrap skills down the Angels Advocate draiange which enters Angel Slot just above the deep dark portion of Angel Slot.  Its kind of like a 2 in one route in that you get to add the best part of Angel Slot in with Angels Advocate.  Great if you have half a day.

Angels Advocate gets a rating of 4 due to the need to use advanced anchoring with a Sandtrap.

The route described here drops down Angels Advocate then continues down Angel Slot to the early exit.  If you decide to continue down to the final rap in Angel Slot add an additional rappel and about 0.8 miles.

Driving Directions

To get to the Trailhead

From the junction of highway 95 and highway 24 in Hanksville Utah, drive 10.2 miles south on highway 95 to an un-named dirt road on the left (extAngelTrlRd).  The road has a BLM sign saying it goes out to the Angel Trail.  Turn left (east) on the Angel Trail road and ignore smaller dirt roads that branch off.  

2.4 miles from the highway will be a Y in the road (ex0100-0101DD).   Turn left at this Y and continue toward the Angel Canyons on the road labeled 0100.

Stay on road 0100 for 5.9 miles to a turn off to another road on the right (ex1002DD).  Turn right onto the road labeled 1002 then drive 0.3 miles south east over to the end of the road.  Where the road ends is the trailhead for the Angel Trail with a register box (tAngelTrail).  Park here to start the route.

To leave the Exit Vehicle / Escape Pod

No exit vehicle is needed.  This is done as a loop route.

Maps

GPS coordinate information listed at the bottom.  For information about waypoint naming and map symbols, refer to the Glossary page.

Map Link Icon
Click the links for maps of the route. Map of the drive into the route.
Map of the entire route.

Details

The Approach:
From the register box (tAngelTrail) at the Angel Trail trailhead, walk southwest down the trail.  About 0.2 miles from the trailhead the trail will cross over a small patch of red dirt then another 250 feet to where the trail drops down a short hill to a wide open flat area (wAngelSltRP01).  

When the trail drops to the wide open flat area (wAngelRP-01) turn right to leave the trail and follow down some minor drainages southwest.  About 350 feet after leaving the trail the minor drainages will meet with the main drainage for Angel Slot (yAngleSlotTp).

When you get to the main drainage for Angel slot (yAngleSlotTp), turn left (south) and walk down the wash about 380 feet to the top of rap 1 for Angel Slot.

From the top of rap 1 in Angel slot walk west about 75 feet up the left fork where there is an easy walk up out of the drainage (jAngelAdv) to the west.  Scramble up out of the drainage, then veer left and follow the rim sothwest.

After about 200 feet along the rim ross over a small gully (wAngelAdv01) and continue southwest.

About 400 feet further go around the head of a drainage (wAngelAdv02). This drainage looks large and may be confused with the Angels Advocate drainage you want. Pass this one by and continue southish for about 400 feet to the Angels Advocate drainage.

400 feet farther you will be at the dirt rim over the upper Angels Advocate draiange.  Make your way down the dirt slope into Angels Advocate (yAngelAdvTp). 

The Canyoneering / Technical Section:
From where you dropped into Angels Advocate (yAngelAdvTp) turn left to walk southeast down the wash.

Note:
If you walk up the wash from the drop in about 200 feet you will get to the bottom of a shelf about 10 feet high.  There is no need to go up to this shelf but if you want to confirm things look like you are in the right place this is one way to help check.

About 200 feet down canyon are two shelves to get down (wAngelAdv03). The first is 6 or 8 feet and easily downclimbed the second is about 15 feet and bypassable on the LDC side.

Rap 1 (dAngelAdvR1-2) is about 200 feet farther down canyon.  Rap 1 can be anchored in the drainage with a sandtrap and would drop about 70 feet plus added rope travel to set the anchor back about 20 feet. Optionally you can use a retrievable anchor like the Smooth Operator from a large boulder up out of the drainage on the RDC side and use about 110 feet of rope travel from anchor to ground. Please do not leave webbing at rap 1 to keep the area clean for would be hikers. Use a sandtrap or a retrievable anchor.

Rap 2 is right at the bottom of rap 1, is anchored using a sand trap about 30 feet back from the drop and drops about 35 feet. About 65 feet of rope travel from sandtrap to ground.

A short distance after rap 2 is a double downclimb (wAngelAdv04) of 6 feet then about 15 feet down a sloped wall. Followed by a downclimb of about 6 feet just before getting to a trough like section to walk.

Rap 3 (dAngelAdvR3) is a little over 100 feet further.  Rap 3 is anchored using a sandtrap about 20 feet back, drops about 40 feet with a hanging pothole midway.

Rap 4 (dAngelAdvR4) is a short distance after rap 3.  Rap 4 is anchored from a rock using a retrievable anchor like a Smooth Operator and drops about 20 feet.  A retrievable anchor like a Smooth Operator works well here so no webbing needs to be left.

Rap 5 is about 200 feet down canyon with 3 downclimbs in a row on the way.  The first one (wAngelAdv05) of 12 feet looks like it should be rappeled but is good with partner assist with rope for first person down. The other 2 are much easier and drop obout 10 feet then 8 feet respectively.

Rap 5 (dAngelAdvR5-6) is anchored from a sandtrap and drops about 40 feet.

Rap 6 is near the bottom of rap 5, is anchored from a sand trap and drops about 65 feet, but you will need about 90 feet of rope travel to account for setting the sandtrap back and for the travel over the two stages of the rap. The bottom of rap 6 is in Angel Slot a little up canyon of Angel Slot rap 3.

Once in Angel Slot you will be in a narrow slot at teh top of a 30 foot downclimb that is broken up into 3 easy down climbs of about 10 feet each.  At the bottom of this is another long corridor to walk in.  Continue down canyon to the top of a drop that is about 50 feet which is rap 3.

Rap 3(dAngelSlotR3) is approximately 900 feet down canyon of rap 2 but this is VERY approximate.  Rap 3 is a drop of about 50 feet down a tight section.  Rap 3 can be down climbed by good down climbers but may be difficult so it’s labeled as a rappel.  The first 15 to 20 feet is easily down climbed.  After the first part the shape of the slot forces you out to where it can be difficult to down climb safely.  There are several choke stones along the drop which can be rigged as anchors to rappel this drop.  Be careful to set the webbing so that the rope has a clean pull line.  There are a few possible pinch points for the ropes here around the choke stones.  

Down canyon of rap 3 the canyon gets a lot tighter and darker.  The walls lean to the LDC side making travel a bit awkward.  There are a few short simple down climbs in the dark section after rap 3 but they are awkward due to the slant of the walls.  After the dark slanted section the canyon continues down a long narrow corridor with a soft sandy bottom you can run or walk along.  This section is very scenic so take the time to enjoy.   

After a few hundred feet of the long scenic narrow section down canyon of rap 3, the canyon widens out again (wAngelSltRP02) to very wide soft sandy wash with high walls on either side.

About 200 feet down canyon after it widens out is where you can exit the canyon to return back up to the trailhead (jAngelSltExt2).  The exit up out of the canyon is on the LDC side starting with an up climb of about 8 feet then an easy walk up steep slick rock.  

The Exit:
The exit point used for this route is shortly after the canyon widens out to wide wash.  You climb / scramble up the LDC side to exit the draiang.  If you want to continue to the end of the canyon and down to Beaver Wash, you can find that information in the route description for Angel Slot.

At the exit point (jAngelExit2) there is a short section of about 8 feet to upclimb on the LDC (east side) to access a steep sloped slick rock drainage exiting up out of the canyon on the LDC (east) side.  Climb up the first 8 feet then start walking east up the sloped drainage.

As you scramble east up out of the main wash, follow up along the slickrock contouring under the north side of a sandstone peak.  About 650 feet after leaving the main wash you will get to the lower end (wAngelSltRP07) of a large slickrock ridge running up to the north.

Turn left to walk north going up the slickrock ridge.  If you find the rock too steep you can get to a more gentle slope by continueing a little further east starting up the backside of the ridge.

A little over 500 feet up along the ridge is a spot to scramble up (wAngelSltRP08) to the next higher level.  Continue north up along the ridge.

About 500 feet further the route gets to a short sandy area (wAngelSltRP09) with a use trail to follow.  Continue north.

About 350 feet further you will get to a spot on the ridge you need to route find your way up to the next level (wAngelSltRP10) by going around the left (west) side then around to the right (east) side then scramble your way up to the next level.

About 350 feet further is a spot to scramble up (wAngelSltRP11) onto the dirt mesa above.  Once at the top of this scramble continue north for about 400 feet to find well developed use trail going northwest.

Once on the well developed use trail (wAngelSltRP12) follow the use trail northwest about 0.35 miles back to your car. 

GPS Waypoint Information

Downloadable GPX files available at BG-Gear Store (easier than manual entry and a great way to support Bluugnome).
Waypoint naming convention and map symbol information can be found on the Glossary page.  Elevations are approximate.
BEFORE manually entering coordinates set your system to WGS84 datum and Lat/Lon hddd.ddddd° coordinate format. 
Inconsistent datum's and coordinate formats will result in location errors.

Click to show / expand the list of waypoints below........
Angels Advocate 1 - Drive to Trailhead
  1. extAngelTrlRd          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 38.23613   W -110.64761        Elev: 4,810 Feet
    Exit off highway 95 to an un-named road that leads to the Angel Point areas. The BLM has a sign saying this road leads to the Angel Trail.
  2. ex0100-0101DD          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 38.24243   W -110.61040        Elev: NaN Feet
    This is a Y in the road. Turning left on the road labeled 0100 leads northeast toward the Angel Trail and to the Angel Canyons. Turning right on the road labeled 0101 leads southeast toward the Beaver Canyons and Balcony Canyons Area.
  3. ex1002DD          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 38.30851   W -110.55301        Elev: NaN Feet
    Turn right onto a dirt road here marked 1002 to go to Angel Slot. Continue straight to go to Angel Cove or Fallen Angel Canyon.
  4. tAngelTrail          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 38.30605   W -110.54902        Elev: 4,900 Feet
    Trailhead for the Angel Trail. Also the start point for the Angel Slot route.
Angels Advocate 2 - Approach
  1. tAngelTrail          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 38.30605   W -110.54902        Elev: 4,900 Feet
    Trailhead for the Angel Trail. Also the start point for the Angel Slot route.
  2. wAngelSltRP01          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 38.30353   W -110.54542        Elev: 4,775 Feet
    Trail drops down to a wide open flat area.
  3. yAngleSlotTp          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 38.30274   W -110.54602        Elev: 4,760 Feet
    Top entry for Angel Slot. This is where minor drainges meet the main drainage for Angel Slot here about 350 feet after leaving the trail.
  4. dAngelSlotR1          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 38.30191   W -110.54547        Elev: NaN Feet
    Rap 1 - Angel Slot. Rap 1 drops about 85 feet down a sloped wall and is anchored from large rock under a ledge where a side drainage joins in. To follow the approach for Angels Advocate, do not drop this rappel but instead follow southwest along the rim. A safe way up to the rim from here is to go up the left fork about 75 feet where it is an easy walk up out of the drainage, then veer left and follow the rim sothwest.
  5. jAngelAdv          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 38.30192   W -110.54572        Elev: NaN Feet
    This is an easy spot to walk up onto the rim and is about 75 feet up the left fork just above rap 1 in Angel Slot.
  6. wAngelAdv01          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 38.30149   W -110.54576        Elev: NaN Feet
    Cross over a small gully here and continue southwest.
  7. wAngelAdv02          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 38.30064   W -110.54660        Elev: 4,750 Feet
    Go around the head of a drainage here. This drainage looks large and may be confused with the Angels Advocate drainage you want. Pass this one by and continue southish for about 400 feet to the Angels Advocate drainage.
  8. yAngelAdvTp          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 38.29952   W -110.54720        Elev: 4,730 Feet
    This is where the route drops into the upper wash of Angles Advocate Canyon. About 200 feet down canyon of a shelf of about 8 to 10 feet. Travel southwest down the wash.
Angels Advocate 3 - Canyon
  1. yAngelAdvTp          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 38.29952   W -110.54720        Elev: 4,730 Feet
    This is where the route drops into the upper wash of Angles Advocate Canyon. About 200 feet down canyon of a shelf of about 8 to 10 feet. Travel southwest down the wash.
  2. wAngelAdv03          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 38.29937   W -110.54663        Elev: NaN Feet
    Two shelves to get down. The first is 6 or 8 feet and easily downclimbed the second is about 15 feet and bypassable on the LDC side.
  3. dAngelAdvR1-2          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 38.29894   W -110.54616        Elev: NaN Feet
    Rap 1 Angels Advocate. Can be anchored in the drainage with a sandtrap and would drop about 70 feet plus added rope travel to set the anchor back about 20 feet. Optionally you can use a retrievable anchor like the Smooth Operator from a large boulder up out of the drainage on the RDC side and use about 110 feet of rope travel from anchor to ground. Please do not leave webbing at rap 1 to keep the area clean for would be hikers. Use a sandtrap or a retrievable anchor. Rap 2 is right at the bottom of rap 1, is anchored using a sand trap about 30 feet back from the drop and drops about 35 feet. About 65 feet of rope travel from sandtrap to ground.
  4. wAngelAdv04          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 38.29882   W -110.54592        Elev: NaN Feet
    A double downclimb of 6 feet then about 15 feet down a sloped wall followed by a downclimb of about 6 feet just before getting to a trough like section to walk.
  5. dAngelAdvR3          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 38.29861   W -110.54543        Elev: 4,566 Feet
    Rap 3 Angels Advocate. Anchored using a sandtrap about 20 feet back, drops about 40 feet with a hanging pothole midway
  6. dAngelAdvR4          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 38.29855   W -110.54528        Elev: NaN Feet
    Rap 4 Angels Advocate. Anchored from a rock using a retrievable anchor like a Smooth Operator and drops about 20 feet. A retrievable anchor like a Smooth Operator works well here so no webbing needs to be left.
  7. wAngelAdv05          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 38.29848   W -110.54486        Elev: NaN Feet
    3 downclimbs in a row where the first one of 12 feet looks like it should be rappeled but is good with partner assist with rope for first person down. The other 2 are much easier and drop obout 10 feet then 8 feet respectively. Just after these drops is raps 5 and 6.
  8. dAngelAdvR5-6          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 38.29845   W -110.54461        Elev: NaN Feet
    Raps 5 and 6 Angels Advocate. Rap 5 anchored from a sandtrap and drops about 40 feet. Rap 6 is near the bottom of rap 5, is anchored from a sand trap and drops about 65 feet, but you will need about 90 feet of rope travel to account for setting the sandtrap back and for the travel over the two stages of the rap. The bottom of rap 6 is in Angel Slot a little up canyon of Angel Slot rap 3.
  9. yAngelAdvBt          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 38.29839   W -110.54441        Elev: 4,485 Feet
    Bottom of Angels Advocate Canyon were it drops into Angel Slot. This is just above a 2 stage downclimb and a little up canyon of the 50 foot rap 3 in Angel Slot.
  10. dAngelSlotR3          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 38.29796   W -110.54439        Elev: NaN Feet
    Rap 3 - Angel Slot. Rap 3 drops about 50 feet down a tight slot and is anchored from choke stones. Rap 3 would be awkward to down climb but can be done by skilled down climbers. There is one spot that will force you out uncomfortably and is not safe.
  11. wAngelSltRP02          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 38.29709   W -110.54439        Elev: NaN Feet
    Canyon widens out to a wide sandy floored wash.
  12. jAngelSltExt2          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 38.29674   W -110.54400        Elev: 4,320 Feet
    Start of the exit route up out of the canyon. Can exit here after the upper portion of the canyon or follow the route down canyon which will eventually return you here to exit after doing the lower portion of the canyon.
Angels Advocate 4 - Exit
  1. jAngelSltExt2          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 38.29674   W -110.54400        Elev: 4,320 Feet
    Start of the exit route up out of the canyon. Can exit here after the upper portion of the canyon or follow the route down canyon which will eventually return you here to exit after doing the lower portion of the canyon.
  2. wAngelSltRP07          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 38.29720   W -110.54178        Elev: NaN Feet
    Scramble up the nose here. It is easier to scramble up just east of the crest of the nose.
  3. wAngelSltRP08          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 38.29836   W -110.54294        Elev: 4,565 Feet
    Scramble up to the next highest shelf and continue to travel north.
  4. wAngelSltRP09          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 38.29964   W -110.54350        Elev: 4,561 Feet
    Route passes through a sandy area with a well defined trail.
  5. wAngelSltRP10          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 38.30058   W -110.54409        Elev: NaN Feet
    Route find your way up to the next level by going around the left (west) side then around to the right (east) side then scramble your way up to the next level.
  6. wAngelSltRP11          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 38.30158   W -110.54389        Elev: 4,725 Feet
    Scramble up onto the mease top and look for use trails headed north.
  7. wAngelSltRP12          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 38.30272   W -110.54440        Elev: 4,730 Feet
    Exit route from Angel Slot meets the main trail. From here turn left (northwest) and follow the trail back up to the trailhead. The use trail goes off to the east and may have an easier but less direct way down to the river.
  8. wAngelSltRP01          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 38.30353   W -110.54542        Elev: 4,775 Feet
    Trail drops down to a wide open flat area.
  9. tAngelTrail          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 38.30605   W -110.54902        Elev: 4,900 Feet
    Trailhead for the Angel Trail. Also the start point for the Angel Slot route.

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